Are plants intelligent? It depends on the definition
Goldenrod can perceive other plants nearby without ever touching them, by sensing far-red light ratios reflected off leaves. When goldenrod is eaten by herbivores, it adapts its response based on whether or not another plant is nearby......»»
How a biocatalyst might boost the growth of microalgae
Living organisms consist to a large extent of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) compounds. These have to be taken in with food or, in the case of plants, produced through photosynthesis......»»
Inspired by nature: Synthetic nightshade molecule effective against leukemia cells
Nightshade plants produce a diverse array of compounds with therapeutic potential. Researchers at CeMM have now identified an artificial variant inspired by the Withanolides group that acts highly specifically against leukemia cells......»»
New tomato, potato family tree shows that fruit color and size evolved together
Fruits of Solanum plants, a group in the nightshade family, are incredibly diverse, ranging from sizable red tomatoes and purple eggplants to the poisonous green berries on potato plants. A new and improved family tree of this group, produced by an i.....»»
GPT-5 will have ‘Ph.D.-level’ intelligence
In a new interview, OpenAI CTO Mira Murati describes how intelligent the next generation of AI will be, and when we can expect it......»»
Study finds plants store carbon for shorter periods than thought
The carbon stored globally by plants is shorter-lived and more vulnerable to climate change than previously thought, according to a new study......»»
Wild chimpanzees seek out medicinal plants to treat illness and injuries, study finds
Chimpanzees appear to consume plants with medicinal properties to treat their ailments, according to a study published on June 20 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Elodie Freymann from the University of Oxford, UK, and colleagues......»»
New species of Callicarpa discovered in Hunan, China
Callicarpa L. (Lamiaceae) consists of 140 species that are trees or shrubs, and there are about 53 species in China, mainly distributed south of the Yangtze River. Some plants of Callicarpa are used as traditional medicine in China. In addition, they.....»»
Researchers reveal effects of climate change on above- and belowground biomass distribution on Tibetan plateau
Global warming has significantly altered plant growth patterns on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) over the past three decades. Plants adjust their growth trajectories in response to climate change, prioritizing leaf and stem growth or root extension to bett.....»»
Unlocking the tea leaf"s secret: Decoding the amino acid blueprint of tea plant
Amino acids are vital for plant growth and significantly influence tea flavor and health benefits. Tea plants, particularly Camellia sinensis, exhibit unique amino acid profiles that contribute to their distinctive taste and nutritional value......»»
Non-native plants and animals expanding ranges 100-times faster than native species, finds new research
An international team of scientists has recently found that non-native species are expanding their ranges many orders of magnitude faster than native ones, in large part due to inadvertent human help. Even seemingly sedentary non-native plants are mo.....»»
Your Apple Watch can now control DJI Osmo Mobile gimbals
DJI has released exciting new updates for the and Osmo Mobile SE, making the intelligent smartphone stabilizers compatible with various models for remote control. more….....»»
NASA planes fly over Baltimore power plants and landfills measuring air pollution, greenhouse gases
Planes are circling over power plants, landfills and airports around Baltimore collecting data for NASA on air pollutants and greenhouse gases......»»
High fliers: Pleasure-seeking parrots are using aromatic plants, stinky ants and alcohol to preen themselves
Birds have been known to seek out pungent chemicals for various reasons. Some consume fermented fruits with gusto and suffer the ill effects. Others expose themselves to ants, but only the stinky kind. These ants produce useful antimicrobials and ins.....»»
Ending native forest logging would help Australia"s climate goals much more than planting trees
Australia contains some of the world's most biologically diverse and carbon-dense native forests. Eucalypts in wet temperate forests are the tallest flowering plants in the world and home to an array of unique tree-dwelling marsupials, rare birds, in.....»»
Engineered plants produce human milk sugars that could lead to healthier baby formula
Worldwide, a majority of babies—approximately 75%—drink infant formula in their first six months of life, either as a sole source of nutrition or as a supplement to breastfeeding. But while formula provides essential food for growing babies, it c.....»»
Summer slumber: How seeds go dormant to combat harsh conditions
Plants are highly versatile organisms that have developed remarkable strategies to adapt to different environments. One such strategy is seed dormancy, an adaptation that temporally prevents viable seeds from germinating even under optimal conditions.....»»
A "liquid battery" advance—strategies for electrocatalytic hydrogenation
As California transitions rapidly to renewable fuels, it needs new technologies that can store power for the electric grid. Solar power drops at night and declines in winter. Wind power ebbs and flows. As a result, the state depends heavily on natura.....»»
Humans are the elephant in the room when it comes to conservation models
Humans are outsized actors in the world's wild places where there are struggles to preserve and protect vital natural resources and animals, birds and plants. Yet people and their plus-sized footprint are rarely discussed in models seeking to predict.....»»
Mongolian grasslands study reveals key drivers of plant community stability in changing climate
An international research team has undertaken a study of plants in the Mongolian grasslands to evaluate the stability of these plant communities over time. They specifically looked at how the dryness of the climate impacted the plant communities and.....»»
Researchers explore the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potentials of essential oils
Essential oils, also known as ethereal oils, are volatile, aromatic compounds derived from plants. Found in only about 10% of the plant kingdom, these oils are present in secretory structures such as glands, ducts, cavities, and hairs. Chemically, th.....»»